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The Battle of New Moret February 29, 1203 to March 5, 1203: Saddanar travels to the castle of Theadocia De-Chandelin to gather information about the Fists of Zeus. He speaks with Thea and Militadles in a secure council chamber. Thea tells Saddanar that the Fists of Zeus are a fanatical sect who very loosely follow the ways of Zeus, they are chaotic, very dangerous, and warns "If you've entered into an alliance with them, your death is the only thing that will break it!" She does not say that they are evil, but knows they are not above torture, bribery, and murder to gain their goals. She also knows that the Fists of Zeus are in New Moret and she warns Saddanar that they most likely already have a plan to assassinate him, kill his guards, and take over the town as soon his goals are in conflict with their goals. Thea changes the subject and says that a spy who had been working in Nulb (for many years) has been missing for the past several days and would like to know if you have any knowledge of his location. Concerning Natasha the Illrigger Paladin of Drauga, Thea knows Natasha is evil, but also knows that Natasha is not hell bent on waging war against the goods, clerics of Zeus, or anyone else. She is interested in political gains. In fact Natasha's craving for power within the ranks of Druaga has been more a benefit than anything else. She states this next point very strongly "If Natasha offers information, you can bet it will be accurate!" It may help the party gain some minor goal, but it will help Natasha's political career as well. She advises Saddanar to be patient, go back to New Moret, don't act like you know anything about the Fists of Zeus, look for the lost spy, and leave Natasha alone. She believes that if Natasha were to die, the results could be a war. Saddanar teleports home to consider all that Thea has told him. March 7, 1203: With the Fists of Zeus gaining more and more control in New Moret. Captain Slote leads Saddanar to a warehouse where a single guard is posted. The guard opens the door and Saddanar is led to the rear of the building where two people are tied in chairs and two guards are posted. The first person tied in the chair is covered in blood. He has been stripped down to his underwear and has been beaten badly. The floor around him is splattered with blood and he is missing all of his fingers, toes, most of his hands, and one of his ears (which are laying on the floor as well). His teeth have been knocked out and he is bleeding from various wounds in his arms, legs, and chest. To say that this man has been horribly tortured is a gross understatement and it is a wonder he is still alive. The second person is wearing a hood and shows little visible signs of torture. There are a few bloodstains on the person’s clothes, but nothing to the extent of the first person. Captain Slote turns to Saddanar and says “We were able to capture these two in Nulb about a week ago. This bastard!” as he points to the tortured man, “Claimed to a ranger working for city of Verbobonc as a spy. Said he was working as the blacksmith and claimed to have hid someone Renchor in Nulb a few years ago. It wasn’t until we started cutting off his fingers and toes that he started talking! Boy can he scream!” Now pointing at the other one. “This bitch is the catch of the day!” Captain Slote says with a great deal of pride. “We’ve been wanting her for a long time!” He reaches over and jerks off the person’s hood revealing Natasha, the Illrigger Paladin from Nulb. “I didn’t suspect she’s going to have much to say, but I thought you’d want to be here for it. Well, bitch do you want to sing for your supper, you evil slut?” She raises her bruised face looks at Captain Slote and Saddanar and says, “If this is what it means to be good, then I am proud of what I am. You, steal, trespass, torture, and murder, and hide behind the word “Good”. The Fists of Zeus have burnt dozens of villages and murdered hundreds of innocent men, women, and children. The people of Nulb haven’t committed a tenth of the crimes as you thugs in New Moret!” Captain Slote takes his gauntleted hand smashes her in the face and says “Shut up bitch!” He pulls a dagger, hands it to Saddanar, and says. “She’s all yours. Make it quick, our lookouts report a number of mounted riders approaching New Moret.” Saddanar acts quickly, he reaches over, touches the tortured man and teleports to Theadocia De-Chandelin's castle in hopes of getting the man healed. He does not, however, bother helping Natasha; she is left alone to be tortured by the Fists of Zeus. At Thea's castle the guards quickly summons the high-priestess. Once Thea is notified, Saddanar teleports back to New Moret and is attacked as soon as he arrives back at the warehouse. In an apparent turn of good luck, the force of riders arrives at New Moret. Saddanar breathes a sigh of relief when he discovers that the riders are not from Nulb as was first suspected, but they are the Knights of Justice led by Galahad and Fairburne. Galahad commands the Fists of Zeus to lay down their weapons, but the Fists of Zeus are determined fight. As the battle for New Moret rages on the village's battlements, Saddanar fights for his life in the streets and alleys of New Moret. |